Hanley getting hot at perfect time

TORONTO — For much of the second half of the season, the talk surrounding the Red Sox’s ascension has been centred on the breakout season of American League MVP candidate Mookie Betts, the consistency of Rick Porcello and the ageless dominance of David Ortiz.

But Hanley Ramirez’s under-the-radar bounce-back season has also been an increasingly vital component to Boston’s charge atop the AL East.

In what can easily be deemed the biggest game and the biggest series of the year against the second-place Blue Jays, Ramirez came out and set the tone, finishing 2-for-3 with a three-run home and two runs scored in the Red Sox’s 13-3 dismantling of Toronto.

Ramirez’s campaign has not only provided additional depth to a lineup which already features a pair of MVP candidates, but also given opposing teams an additional threat to deal with in the heart of baseball’s best order.

“Quietly he’s gone along when so many other guys are getting the attention,” Red Sox manager John Farrell said. “Here he is knocking on the door of 100 RBIs. The last three weeks, he’s been as hot …

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